Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Elk Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Elk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,169 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,390 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,696 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,016 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,223 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,642 in Elk, rent included.

Valparaiso is about 16% cheaper than Elk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Valparaiso sits 12% below the global median, while Elk is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.75 CLP 9,071

$7.95 zł 29.64

22.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.86 CLP 35.2K

$40.96 zł 153

-7.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.25 CLP 7,674

$6.61 zł 24.66

24.81%

Cappuccino

$2.90 CLP 2,701

$2.22 zł 8.29

30.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,105

$2.07 zł 7.73

-42.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 CLP 842

$1.07 zł 3.99

-15.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.27 CLP 3,039

$4.14 zł 15.44

-21.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 CLP 4,042

$4.01 zł 14.94

8.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$1.03 zł 3.83

13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,455

$1.35 zł 5.05

15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,946

$1.87 zł 6.98

11.76%

Eggs

$4.17 CLP 3,878

$2.62 zł 9.78

59.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 CLP 9,674

$4.93 zł 18.41

110.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 CLP 6,184

$6.49 zł 24.21

2.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.71 CLP 9,035

$13.29 zł 49.57

-26.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 CLP 1,641

$1.04 zł 3.89

69.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,445

$1.89 zł 7.05

-17.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,472

$2.02 zł 7.53

-21.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 CLP 1,303

$2.89 zł 10.77

-51.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 CLP 1,092

$0.91 zł 3.40

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,266

$1.08 zł 4.03

25.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 CLP 1,218

$1.35 zł 5.05

-2.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CLP 1,111

$0.51 zł 1.92

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 CLP 4,356

$5.47 zł 20.41

-14.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.22 CLP 4,860

$7.19 zł 26.82

-27.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CLP 1,368

$1.11 zł 4.14

32.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CLP 1,701

$1.37 zł 5.12

33.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 CLP 525

$1.11 zł 4.16

-49.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 CLP 49.5K

$32.67 zł 122

62.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 470

$2.20 zł 8.21

-77.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 CLP 696

$0.48 zł 1.80

56.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 CLP 3,607

$13.72 zł 51.2

-71.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CLP 1,277

$1.76 zł 6.56

-22.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.0K CLP 13.9M

$32.9K zł 122.7K

-54.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K CLP 18.9M

$31.0K zł 115.7K

-34.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$134 CLP 124.8K

$313 zł 1,168

-57.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.51 CLP 12.6K

$6.95 zł 25.94

94.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.81 CLP 20.3K

$13.50 zł 50.3

61.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.40 CLP 20.8K

$36.42 zł 136

-38.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.28 CLP 22.6K

$19.74 zł 73.6

23.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.38 CLP 5,006

$6.93 zł 25.83

-22.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$435 CLP 404.9K

$311 zł 1,160

39.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,602 CLP 8.0M

$5,507 zł 20.5K

56.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.60 CLP 30.3K

$84.8 zł 316

-61.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.96 CLP 20.4K

$26.81 zł 100.0

-18.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 CLP 56.4K

$84.0 zł 313

-27.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 CLP 47.5K

$88.6 zł 330

-42.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 CLP 454.7K

$548 zł 2,043

-10.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$438 CLP 407.7K

$462 zł 1,724

-5.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 CLP 657.6K

$938 zł 3,498

-24.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 CLP 524.2K

$864 zł 3,224

-34.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 CLP 1.5M

$2,272 zł 8,475

-29.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 CLP 972.7K

$1,963 zł 7,323

-46.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 CLP 728.6K

$1,258 zł 4,692

-37.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

-26.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Valparaiso: July 26, 2026

Last update for Elk: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Valparaiso versus $548 in Elk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 61% higher in Elk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Valparaiso versus $41.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Valparaiso vs $207 in Elk – so Elk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Valparaiso vs Elk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Elk is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Valparaiso and $2,085 in Elk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valparaiso, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Elk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Valparaiso and $41.00 in Elk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valparaiso, where all-in costs run around $1,169, than in Elk at $1,390. In Valparaiso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valparaiso – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Valparaiso. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.